Ultraviolet Disinfection Device and Method

ABSTRACT

A far-ultraviolet (far-UVC) disinfection device including a light source positioned within a housing and configured to emit a far-UVC light having an output wavelength of between about 206 nanometers to about 230 nanometers. There are one or more subject detection sensors positioned configured to detect the presence of one or more subjects and a controller in communication with the light source and the one or more subject detection sensors. The controller is configured to receive detection data from the one or more subject detection sensors and determine whether one or more subjects are within a range of the far-UVC light emitted by the light source. The controller is further configured to cause the light source to emit or cease emitting far-UVC light based on the amount of time one or more subjects are within the range of the emitted. far-UVC light.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 63/232,292 filed Aug. 12, 2021 entitled “Light SystemsThat Clean and Disinfect Air”, which is incorporated by reference hereinin its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to light systems fordisinfection and, in some embodiments, to an ultraviolet lightdisinfection device and method of use thereof.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment there is a far-UVC disinfection device including ahousing, a light source positioned within the housing and configured toemit a far-UVC light having an output wavelength of between about 206nanometers to about 230 nanometers, one or more subject detectionsensors positioned within the housing and configured to detect thepresence of one or more subjects, the one or more subjects consisting ofone or more of human beings, one or more domesticated animals, and oneor more farm animals or a combination thereof, and a controllerpositioned within the housing and in communication with the light sourceand the one or more subject detection sensors. The controller isconfigured to receive detection data from the one or more subjectdetection sensors, determine, based on the received detection data,whether one or more subjects are within a range of the far-UVC lightemitted by the light source, in response to determining that a subjectof the one or more subjects are within the range of the far-UVC lightemitted by the light source for a predetermined amount of exposure time,cause the light source to cease emitting the far-UVC light, and inresponse to determining that no subject of the one or more subjects iswithin the range of the far-UVC light emitted by the light source forthe predetermined amount of exposure time, cause the light source toemit the far-UVC light.

In some embodiments, the one or more subject detection sensors includesat least one of an infrared sensor, a motion sensor, and a proximitysensor. In some embodiments, the predetermined amount of exposure timeis less than or equal to an exposure limit for the subject being exposedto the far-UVC light emitted by the light source. In some embodiments,the controller is configured to cause the light source to cease emittingthe far-UVC light in response to the one or more subject detectionsensors detecting the presence of a subject within the range of theemitted far-UVC light for between about one minute to about ten minutes.In some embodiments, the controller is configured to cause the lightsource to cease emitting the far-UVC light in response to the one ormore subject detection sensors detecting the presence of a subjectwithin the range of the emitted light for about six minutes.

In some embodiments, the controller is configured to determine aneffective disinfection rate based on an amount of time that the lightsource has been emitting the far-UVC light. In some embodiments, thecontroller is configured to transmit the determined effectivedisinfection rate to a client device external to the far-UVCdisinfection device. In some embodiments, the one or more subjectdetection sensors includes two infrared sensors and four motion sensors.In some embodiments, the controller is configured to cause the one ormore subject detection sensors to activate at a predetermined detectioninterval, and when activated, the one or more subject detection sensorsare configured to generate the detection data and transmit the detectiondata to the processor.

In some embodiments, the predetermined detection interval is less thanor equal to one second. In some embodiments, the controller isconfigured to delay causing the light source to emit the far-UVC lightin response to the one or more subject detection sensors detecting nosubject within the range of the far-UVC light emitted by the lightsource by a predetermined amount of delay time. In some embodiments, thepredetermined amount of delay time is between about one second to sixminutes. In some embodiments, the controller is configured to, inresponse to the light source emitting the far-UVC light continuously fora predetermined maximum emission amount of time, causing the lightsource to cease emitting the far-UVC light. In some embodiments, thepredetermined maximum emission amount of time is about sixty minutes.

In some embodiments, the light source is configured to emit a far-UVClight having an output wavelength of about 222 nanometers. In someembodiments, the controller is configured to cause the light source tocease emitting the far-UVC light in response to the one or more subjectdetection sensors detecting the presence of a subject within the rangeof the emitted far-UVC light for a threshold limit value (TLV) amount oftime, wherein the TLV is based on the output wavelength of the emittedfar-UVC light. In some embodiments, the controller is configured tocause the light source to cease emitting the far-UVC light in responseto the one or more subject detection sensors detecting the presence of asubject within a predetermined distance of the light source 104. In someembodiments, the predetermined distance is about three feet.

In another embodiment, there is A method of automatically disinfectingthe air and surfaces within the range of a far-ultraviolet (far-UVC)disinfection device, the method including causing a far-UVC disinfectiondevice to emit a far-UVC light having an output wavelength of about 222nanometers, the far-UVC disinfection device including a far-UVC lightsource configured to emit the far-UVC light, one or more subjectdetection sensors configured to detect the one or more subjects, the oneor more subjects consisting of one or more of human beings, one or moredomesticated animals, and one or more farm animals or a combinationthereof, and a controller in communication with the far-UVC light sourceand the one or more subject detection sensors and configured toselectively activate and deactivate each of the far-UVC light source andthe one or more subject detection sensors. The method further includesin response to the one or more subject detection sensors detecting thata subject of the one or more subjects are within the range of thefar-UVC light emitted by the far-UVC light source for a predeterminedamount of exposure time, transmitting a deactivation signal from thecontroller to the far-UVC light source to cause the far-UVC light sourceto cease emitting the far-UVC light, and in response to the one or moresubject detection sensors detecting no subject of the one or moresubjects within the range of the far-UVC light emitted by the far-UVClight source, transmitting an activation signal from the controller tothe far-UVC light source to cause the far-UVC light source to beginemitting the far-UVC light.

In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving from a clientdevice, external to the far-UVC disinfection device, at the controller,an indication of a desired continuous activation period for the far-UVClight source, the desired continuous activation period defined by astart time and a stop time, at the start time, transmitting from thecontroller to the far-UVC light source the activation signal causing thefar-UVC light source to emit far-UVC light, at a first time followingthe start time and prior to the stop time, determining via the one ormore subject detection sensors that a subject is within range of thefar-UVC light emitted by the light source, and transmitting thedeactivation signal from the controller to the far-UVC light source tocause the far-UVC light source to cease emitting the far-UVC light, at asecond time following the first time and prior to the stop time,determining that no subject is within the range of the far-UVC lightemitted by the far-UVC light source, and transmitting the activationsignal from the controller to the far-UVC light source to cause thefar-UVC light source to begin emitting the far-UVC light, and at the endtime, transmitting from the controller to the far-UVC light source thedeactivation signal causing the far-UVC light source to cease emittingthe far-UVC light.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofembodiments of the ultraviolet disinfection device and method, will bebetter understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings ofexemplary embodiments. It should be understood, however, that theinvention is not limited to the precise arrangements andinstrumentalities shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an ultraviolet disinfection device inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is perspective view of the ultraviolet disinfection device ofFIG. 1 ;

FIGS. 3A-3C are use case diagrams illustrating aspects of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 4A-4D are use case diagrams illustrating aspects of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 5A-5B are use case diagrams illustrating aspects of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 6A-6C are use case diagrams illustrating aspects of the presentdisclosure; and

FIGS. 7A-7D are use case diagrams illustrating aspects of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is one of many disinfectionmethods that use Ultraviolet (UV) light to kill or inactivatemicroorganisms by destroying nucleic acids and disrupting their DNA,leaving them unable to perform vital cellular function. However,existing and/or commercially available UVGI devices emit a UV light thatis unsafe to subjects such as human beings and animals such asdomesticated animals and farm animals. For example, the wavelength ofthe UV light emitted by such devices can cause permanent damage tosubjects within a very short time frame (e.g., within a couple ofseconds) of being exposed to said UV light. Put another way, the UVlight emitted by such devices is nearly immediately harmful to thesubjects outlined above.

Additionally, there is a need to effectively disinfect the air andvarious surfaces within a given indoor or outdoor public or privatespace. For example, it is difficult to effectively kill or inactivateairborne viruses and/or bacteria that exist within homes and otherpublic or private spaces. As such, there is a need to provide anultraviolet disinfection device, which emits a UV light to disinfect theair and surfaces within a public or private space, and which is safe tooperate around subjects such as human beings, domesticated animals(e.g., household pets) and/or farm animals.

Numerous details are described herein in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the example embodiment illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. However, some embodiments may be practiced without any of thespecific details, and the scope of the claims is only limited by thosefeatures and aspects specifically recited in the claims. Furthermore,well-known methods, components, and circuits have not been described inexhaustive detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure pertinent aspectsof the embodiments described herein.

Aspects of the present invention are described with reference to thesafety of an emitted UV light in relation to subjects (e.g., humanbeing, domesticated animal, farm animal) exposed to the UV light. The“safety” of the UV light may refer to an amount of time needed to causedamage to the subject in response to the subject being exposed to the UVlight. Damage to a subject from an emitted UV light may include, but isnot limited to, skin damage (e.g., sunburn), damage to the subjects DNA,inflammation of the subjects cornea, temporary or permanent visionimpairment, blindness, DNA lesions, erythema, and/or photo-keratitis. Insome embodiments, the amount of time needed to cause damage to thesubject may refer to the threshold limit value (TLV) for UV exposure.The TLV for UV exposure may be dictated by one or more existing tradeorganizations or standards organizations such as, but not limited to,the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) orIlluminating Engineering Society (IES). The TLV may be calculated basedon the output wavelength of the UV light, distance of a subject from theorigin point of the UV light (e.g., a light source), an amount of time asubject is exposed to the UV light, the frequency at which a subject isexposed to the UV light, and/or the strength of the UV light (e.g.,amount of radiation released by the UV light). according to means knownto those skilled in the art. The TLV may represent the maximum allowabletime a subject may be continuously exposed to a UV light before adverseeffects or damage is caused to the subject. In some embodiments, a UVlight having an associated TLV of greater than or equal to about 23mJ/cm² may be considered safe whereas a UV light having an associatedTLV of less than 23 mJ/cm² may be considered unsafe. In someembodiments, a UV light may be considered “safe” for purposes of thisdisclosure, if the UV light does not cause adverse effects and/or damageto a subject after being continuously exposed to the UV light for aboutat least six minutes, ten minutes, twelve minutes, or fifteen minutes.

A subject, as referenced herein may be a group consisting of one or moreof human beings, one or more domesticated animals, and/or one or morefarm animals. For example a human infant, child, adolescent and/or adultwould be considered a subject for purposes of this disclosure whereas afly may not. Further to this example, domesticated animals may refer toany animal commonly kept as a pet in family households in the UnitedStates, including, but not limited to dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbitsand hamsters; and any animals commonly kept for companion or commercialpurposes. It should be understood that domesticated animals may includeamphibians, reptiles, and certain insects that human beings may keep aspets. A farm animal may refer to an animal farmed commercially for itsmeat, its skin or anything else produced by it (e.g., cows, pigs,sheep).

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference numeralsindicate like elements throughout, there is shown in FIGS. 1-2 anultraviolet disinfection device, generally designated 100, in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The UV device 100may be configured to be positioned within a public or private space andsafely emit a UV light that disinfects the air and/or surfaces withinthe emission range of the UV light.

Referring to FIGS. 1-2 , the UV device 100 may include a housing 102, alight source 104, a controller 106, and one or more subject detectionsensors 108. The light source 104, a controller 106 including one ormore processors, and/or subject detection sensors 108 may be coupled tothe housing 102. In some embodiments, the light source 104, controller106, and/or the subject detection sensors 108 are positioned within thehousing 102. The controller 106 may be in communication with the lightsource 104 such that the controller 106 may selectively activate anddeactivate the light source 104. The controller 106 may also be incommunication with the one or more subject detection sensors 108 suchthat the controller 106 may determine whether a subject is within therange of the UV light emitted by the light source 104. In someembodiments, the UV device 100 may include one or more light sources 104each in communication with the controller 106. For sake of brevity, theUV device 100 will be described with reference to a single light source104. In some embodiments, the UV device 100 may be a far-UVCdisinfection device 100 configured to emit a far-UVC light (e.g., thelight source 104 may be a far-UVC light source configured to emit afar-UVC light).

The controller 106 may include one or more processors and/or one or morememory units configured to store and execute executable code forcontrolling operations of the UV device 100 discussed herein. Forexample, the controller 106 may be in communication with the one or moresubject detection sensors 108 and/or the light source 104 to controloperation thereof. In some embodiments, the controller 106 includes asubstrate (e.g., a printed circuit board (PCB)) having electricallyconnected thereto one or more memory devices (e.g., read-only memory(ROM), flash memory, dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), or staticmemory), and a processing unit (e.g., a processor, a microprocessor, anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or the like).

In some embodiments, the UV device 100 may include a power source (notshown) electrically connected to the light source 104, the controller106, the one or more subject detection sensors 108 and/or any otherelectrically powered components coupled to the housing 102. The powersource may be a battery pack configured to receive one or morebatteries. In other embodiments, the power source may be a rechargeablepower source. In other embodiments, the power source is electricallyconnected to a power cable to enable a user to plug the cable into anoutlet connected to an electrical grid in the user's home.

In some embodiments, the UV device 100 may be in communication with oneor more client devices 110 external to the UV device 100. For example,the controller 106 may include a network interface device to allow thecontroller to be in communication with a client device 110 over a localarea network (LAN), wireless area network (WAN), Bluetooth, or any othercommunication means. The client devices 110 may be any computing devicesuch as, but not limited to, a smart phone, a tablet computer, a laptopcomputer, and a desktop computer.

In one embodiment, the UV device 100 includes one or more computingdevices (e.g., controller 106) having one or more processors and memory(e.g., one or more nonvolatile storage devices). In some embodiments,memory or computer readable storage medium of memory stores programs,modules and data structures, or a subset thereof for a processor tocontrol and run the various systems and methods disclosed herein. In oneembodiment, a non-transitory computer readable storage medium havingstored thereon computer-executable instructions which, when executed bya processor, perform one or more of the methods disclosed herein.

The light source 104 may be configured to emit a UV light to cleanand/or effect disinfection of the air and/or surfaces within theemission range of the emitted UV light. In some embodiments, when the UVdevice 100 includes more than one light source 104 for emitting UVlight, the light sources 104 may output UV light at differentintensities. In some embodiments, the light source 104 may be considereda UV germicidal irradiation (UVGI) light source. For example, the lightsource 104 may emit a UV light to kill or inactivate microorganismswithin the air and/or present on surfaces within the range of theemitted UV light. In some embodiments, the light source emits a far-UVClight. In some embodiments, the light source 104 is configured to emit aUV light having an output wavelength of between about 200 nanometers toabout 254 nanometers. In some embodiments, the light source 104 isconfigured to emit a UV light having an output wavelength of betweenabout 206 nanometers to about 230 nanometers. In some embodiments, thelight source 104 is configured to emit a UV light having an outputwavelength of about 222 nanometers. As such, the UV light emitted by thelight source 104 may be safe for a subject to be exposed to (e.g.,within the emission range of the emitted UV light) for an extendedperiod of time.

An extended period of time may be relative to conventional UVGI devices.For example, conventional UVGI devices emit a UV light having asignificantly lower TLV value than the light source 104 of the presentdisclosure. Further to this example, conventional UVGI devices have aTLV value typically between 3 mJ/cm² to about 6 mJ/cm² whereas the lightsource 104 of the present disclosure may have a TLV value of about 23mJ/cm². As such a subject may be exposed to the light emitted by thelight source 104 for a period of time that is between about two to abouteight times longer than the UV light emitted by a conventional UVGIdevice. In this manner, the light source 104 may be actively emitting UVlight for an amount of time to effect disinfection of the air and/orsurfaces while a subject (e.g., human being, domesticated animal, farmanimal) is simultaneously exposed to the UV light and before causing anyadverse effects or damage to the subject (e.g., before the subject isexposed for a predetermined amount of exposure time).

There may be a maximum amount of time the subject may be exposed to theUV light, after which the subject may experience adverse effects ordamage caused by the UV light. The maximum amount of time a subject maybe exposed to the UV light before any adverse effects or damage iscaused may generally be referred to herein as a subject exposure limit,or exposure limit for short. In some embodiments, the exposure limit isbased on one or more regulations established by governing bodies, suchas, but not limited to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA), ACGIH, IES, and/or American National Standards Institute (ANSI).In some embodiments, an exposure limit is based on a one day, or24-hour, cycle of exposure. As such, the UV device 100 may be configuredto cease emitting the UV light prior to a subject being exposed to theUV light for the subject exposure limit amount of time. The one or moresubject detection sensors 108 may be configured to detect and monitorthe presence of subjects within at least the emission range of the UVlight emitted by the light source 104. In some embodiments, the UVdevice 100 includes a plurality of subject detection sensors 108 each incommunication with the controller 106. There may be one, two, three,four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten or more than ten subjectdetection sensors 108 a-108 n in communication with the controller 106.In some embodiments, the one or more subject detection sensors 108includes at least one of an infrared sensor and a motion sensor. Forexample, and as illustrated in FIG. 2 , the one or more subjectdetection sensors 108 may include four motion sensors 108 a-108 d andtwo infrared sensors 108 e-108 f. In some embodiments, the one or moresubject detection sensors 108 may include a proximity sensor. Forexample, one or more of sensors 108 a-108 d may be a proximity sensor.In some embodiments, the subject detection sensors 108 may include acombination of infrared sensors, motion sensors, and/or proximitysensors.

In some embodiments, the one or more subject detection sensors 108 maybe oriented such that a detection range of the one or more subjectdetection sensors 108 overlaps with the emission range of the lightsource 104. For example, and as illustrated in FIG. 2 , the light source104 may emit UV light through a front panel 112 of the housing 102. Thefront panel 112 may include a window 114 through which the light source104 may emit the UV light. The window 114 may be comprised of atransparent or translucent material such that the UV light emitted bythe 104 may pass therethrough. In some embodiments, the window 114 mayact as a bandpass filter. In some embodiments, there may be one or moreother light sources (e.g., LED lights) positioned behind the window andconfigured to activate and deactivate in conjunction with the lightsource 104. For example, when the light source 104 is activated andemitting UV light, the other light sources may also be activated suchthat a light visible to subjects can be seen through the window 114. Inthis manner, the UV device 100 may provide a visual indication tosubjects (e.g., human beings) that light source 104 is actively emittingUV light.

The one or more subject detection sensors 108 may be coupled to thehousing 102 and oriented such that detection signals emitted by thesubject detection sensors 108 are generally in the same direction as theemitted UV light. In this manner, the one or more subject detectionsensors 108 may be able to detect the presence of subjects, via theemitted detection signals, that are within the emission range of theemitted UV light. In some embodiments, the subject detection sensors arepositioned below the light source 104 and oriented generally toward thefront of the housing 102. For example, the housing 102 may include asensor panel 116 that the one or more subject detection sensors 108 arecoupled to. In some embodiments, at least a portion of one or more ofthe subject detection sensors 108 may be exposed at an exterior surfaceof the sensor panel 116. For example, the subject detection sensors 108e and 108 f are shown as extending partially through the sensor panel116. One or more other subject detection sensors 108 may be entirelyenclosed within the housing 102 (e.g., not exposed at an exteriorsurface of the sensor panel 116). For example, subject detection sensors108 a-108 d are entirely enclosed within the housing 102 and positionedbehind the sensor panel 116. As such, the sensor panel 116 may becomprised of a material configured to permit detection signals emittedby one or more of the subject detection sensors 108 to passtherethrough. In this manner, the sensor panel 116 may obscure one ormore of the subject detection sensors 108 from the sight of a subject,while not impeding the operation of the subject detection sensors 108.In some embodiments, the housing 102 may include a base 118 configuredto mount the UV device 100 to a surface within a public or privatespace. For example, the base 118 may include mounting hardware (e.g.,mounting brackets, screw holes, adhesives) to enable a user to mount theUV device 100 to a wall, ceiling, or any other desired surface withinthe user's home. In some embodiments, the base 118 is configured to bemounted to and/or removed from an external bracket to enable a user toeasily couple and decouple the housing 102 to the external bracket. Insome embodiments, the base 118 may be configured to allow a user toadjust the orientation and/or position of the housing 102 when the base118 is connected to a surface. In some embodiments, the UV device 100may be portable and the mounting base 118 may be configured to be placedon a generally flat surface (e.g., floor, table top, a shelf).

As such, the one or more subject detection sensors 108 may emitdetection signals to detect and/or monitor the presence of and/orposition of one or more subjects. The subject detection sensors 108 maygenerate detection data based on the emitted detection signals andtransmit the detection data to the controller 106. In this manner, thecontroller 106 may, based on the received detection data, determinewhether a subject is within range of the UV light emitted by the lightsource 104 and/or an amount of time a subject has been within range ofthe UV light. In some embodiments, the controller 106 is configured toselectively activate and/or deactivate the light source 104 based on theposition of the subject relative to the UV light emission range, thetime the subject has spent within the emission range of the UV light,and/or the proximity of the subject relative to the UV device 100. Putanother way, the controller 106 may be configured to automatically causethe light source 104 to emit or cease emitting UV light based on 1) thelocation of one or more subjects relative to the UV device 100 and/or 2)an amount of time a subject has been exposed to the emitted UV light.

In some embodiments, the controller 106 is configured to selectivelyactivate and/or deactivate the one or more subject detection sensors108. For example, the controller 106 may transmit a sensor activationsignal to the one or more subject detection sensors 108, individually orin combination, to cause the one or more subject detection sensors 108to activate and thereby emit subject detection signals. In someembodiments, the controller 106 is configured to activate the subjectdetection sensors 108 at a predetermined detection interval. Forexample, the controller 106 may transmit a sensor activation signal tothe one or more subject detection sensors 108 at a predetermineddetection interval of, but not limited to, less than one second, onesecond, two seconds, five seconds, ten seconds, thirty seconds, or oneminute.

In some embodiments, the UV device 100 is configured to automaticallycease emitting UV light in response to a subject entering within apredetermined distance of the UV device 100. For example, the one ormore subject detection sensors 108 may transmit detection data to thecontroller 106. Based on the detection data, the controller 106 maydetermine that a subject is within the range of the emitted UV light andis within the predetermined distance from the UV device 100. In responseto determining that the subject is within the UV light range and thepredetermined distance, the controller 106 may transmit a deactivationsignal to the light source 104 to cause the light source 104 to ceaseemitting UV light. In some embodiments, the predetermined distance is adistance at which the UV light emitted by the light source 104 may causeadverse effects to or damage the subject. In some embodiments, thepredetermined distance is about three feet. In some embodiments, one ormore proximity sensors included in the subject detection sensors 108 maybe used to determine whether a subject is within the predetermineddistance.

In some embodiments, the UV device 100 is configured to distinguishbetween different subjects. For example, the UV device 100 may beconfigured to distinguish between a first subject and a second subjectsuch that the UV device 100 may actively monitor the amount of time eachsubject has been exposed to UV light emitted by the light source 104. Insome embodiments, the controller 106 is configured to distinguishbetween different subjects via the detection data generated by thesubject detection sensors 108. For example, the detection data mayinclude for each detected subject temperature profile data, and/orphysical characteristic data (e.g., height, hair color, skin color,facial features). In this manner, the controller 106 may be configuredto distinguish between different subjects. In some embodiments, there isa storage device (e.g., non-volatile memory, NAND die) operativelycoupled to the controller 106 and configured to store detection data. Assuch, the controller 106 may associate a particular subject with subjectspecific detection data and transmit it to the storage device forstorage and later retrieval.

In some embodiments, the one or more sensors 108 includes an imagecapture device (e.g., camera, video recorder) to enable the controller106 to distinguish between different subjects. As such, the imagecapture device may transmit to the controller 106 detection dataincluding images of one or more subjects. The controller 106 may beconfigured to perform image recognition on the received detection datato determine physical characteristics of the one or more subjects andgenerate physical characteristic data for each subject. For example, thecontroller 106 may be configured to perform an optical recognition(e.g., facial recognition) based on the images included in the detectiondata to distinguish between different subjects. In some embodiments, theUV device 100 is configured to anonymize subjects whom facialrecognition has been performed on to ensure that the subjects identityis kept secret. In some embodiments, the controller 106 is configured toleverage artificial intelligence (AI) and/or machine learning in orderto distinguish between different subjects. In some embodiments, thecontroller 106 may be configured to distinguish between differentsubjects based on the subjects, height, weight, location, gait, and/orany other physical attributes.

Referring to FIGS. 3A-7D, there are shown various use case diagramsillustrating one or more subjects interaction with the UV device 100.The use case diagrams shown in FIGS. 3A-7D are intended to betterillustrate aspects of the present disclosure, specifically in relationto the automatic activation and deactivation of the light source 104 byby the controller 106 in response to detection data received from theone or more subject detection sensors 108. As discussed above, thecontroller 106 may include one or more processors configured toimplement the functionality of the UV device described herein. Forexample, the controller 106 may have stored in a non-transitory computerreadable storage medium, computer readable executable code that whenexecuted by the processor implements the functionalities describedherein.

In FIGS. 3A-7D, the emission range 105 of the UV light emitted by thelight source 104 and the detection range 107 of the one or more subjectdetection sensors 108 are illustrated as broken lines. It will beunderstood though that the emission range 105 and detection range 107shown are for purposes of illustrating concepts of the presentdisclosure and are not intended to limit the emission range 105 of thelight source 104 and the detection range 107 of the subject detectionsensors 108. For example, in some embodiments, the emission range 105and detection range 107 may be generally equal such that each overlapswith one another. In some embodiments, the detection range 107 of thesubject detection sensors 108 is greater than the emission range 105 ofthe light source 104, as illustrated in FIGS. 3A-7D. In FIGS. 3A-7D, theUV device 100 is mounted to a wall within a public or private space(e.g., a wall in a user's home).

Referring to FIGS. 3A-3C, there is illustrated a first use case of oneor more subjects 202 a-202 b interacting with the UV device 100. In FIG.3A, neither of the subjects 202 a-202 b is within the emission range 105of the light source 104 or the detection range 107 of the subjectdetection sensors 108 at time to. At time to, the controller 106 mayreceive detection data from the one or more subject detection sensors108. The controller 106, may determine, based on the received detectiondata, that no subject is within the emission range 105 of the UV lightemitted by the light source 104. In response to determining that nosubject is within the emission range 105, the controller 106 may causethe light source 104 to emit the UV light.

In FIG. 3B, at a time t₁ occurring after the time to, the first subject202 a has moved within the emission range 105 and the second subject 202b has moved within the detection range 107. The controller 106 may beconfigured to determine, based on the detection data received from thesubject detection sensors, that a subject is within range of the UVlight emitted by the light source 104. For example, at time t₁ thesubject detection sensors 108 may transmit detection data to thecontroller 106. The controller 106 may determine, based on the receiveddetection data, that the first subject 202 a is within the emissionrange 105 and that the second subject 202 b is not. In FIG. 3B, time ticorresponds to the point in time at which the first subject 202 a hasmoved from outside the emission range 105 to inside the emission range105. The controller 106 may be configured to determine, based on thedetection data, the amount of time a subject has been exposed to theemitted UV light.

For example, the controller 106 may determine at time t₁ that the firstsubject 202 a has been exposed to the emitted UV light for about onesecond and that the second subject 202 b has not been exposed to theemitted UV light.

In some embodiments, the controller 106 is configured to cause the lightsource 104 to cease emitting the UV light based on the determined amountof time. For example, the controller 106 may be configured to determineif a subject has been within the emission range 105 for a predeterminedamount of exposure time and if so, cause the light source 104 to ceaseemitting the UV light. The predetermined amount of exposure time maycorrespond to the subject exposure limit amount of time. In someembodiments, the predetermined amount of exposure time may be less thanor equal to the exposure limit for a subject being exposed to the UVlight emitted by the light source 104. In this manner, the controller106 may cause the light source 104 to cease emitting the UV light priorto a subject being exposed thereto for the exposure limit amount oftime. For example, if the subject exposure limit is fifteen minutes,then the predetermined amount of exposure time may be less than or equalto fifteen minutes. In some embodiments, the predetermined amount ofexposure time is between about 20% to about 80% of the subject exposurelimit amount of time. For example, if the subject exposure limit amountof time is fifteen minutes, the predetermined amount of exposure timemay be six minutes.

The controller 106, in response to determining that the first subject202 a has not been exposed to the emitted UV light for a predeterminedamount of exposure time, may cause the light source 104 to continueemitting the UV light. For example, the light source 104 was activatedin

FIG. 3A at time to and at time t₁ the controller 106 determines that thefirst subject 202 a has not been exposed to the UV light for thepredetermined amount of exposure time. As such, the controller 106 maynot transmit a deactivation signal to the light source 104, therebycausing the light source 104 to continue emitting UV light.

In FIG. 3C, at a time t₂ occurring after the time t₁ the first subject202 a has remained within the emission range 105 and the second subjecthas moved within the emission range 105. In some embodiments, thecontroller 106 is configured to, in response to determining that asubject is within the emission range 105 for the predetermined amount ofexposure time, cause the light source 104 to cease emitting the UVlight. The controller 106 may receive, between times t₁ and t₂ detectiondata from the subject detection sensors 108. For example, the controller106 may cause the subject detection sensors 108 to emit a detectionsignal at a predetermined detection interval (e.g., every second)between times t₁ and t₂. Each time the subject detection sensors 108 areactivated, detection data may be generated by the subject detectionsensors 108 and transmitted to the controller 106.

The controller 106 may determine, based on the received detection dataover a period of time (e.g., the period of time between times t₁ and t₂)the amount of time a subject has been within the emission range 105. Forexample, the controller 106 may determine that there has been a subject(e.g., first subject 202 a, second subject 202 b) within the emissionrange 105 for the period of time between times t₁ and t₂ based on thedetection data received between those times. In response to the amountof time a subject has been within the emission range being greater thanor equal to the predetermined amount of exposure time, the controller106 may cause the light source 104 to cease emitting the UV light. Forexample, in FIG. 3C, the first subject 202 a has been within theemission range 105 for an amount of time equal to t₂-t₁. The amount oftime t₂-t₁ determined by the controller 106 may be equal to thepredetermined amount of exposure time (e.g., six minutes), and as such,the controller 106 may transmit a deactivation signal to the lightsource 104 to cause the light source 104 to cease emitting UV light. Insome embodiments, the controller 106 is configured to cause the lightsource 104 to cease emitting UV light in response to the one or moresubject detection sensors 108 detecting the presence of a subject withinthe range of the emitted UV light for between about one minute to aboutten minutes. Put another way, the predetermined amount of exposure timemay be between about one minute to about ten minutes.

In some embodiments, the UV device 100 is configured to cause the lightsource 104 to cease emitting UV light in response to a subject movingwithin a predetermined distance of the UV device 100. For example, andreferring back to FIG. 3B, if the first subject 202 a had moved within apredetermined distance of the light source 104 at time t₁ and was withinthe emission range 105, the controller 106 may cause the light source104 to cease emitting UV light at time t₁. In some embodiments, thecontroller 106 is configured to cease emitting UV light at the time thatthe subject detection sensors 108 determine that a subject is within thepredetermined distance from the light source 104 regardless of theamount of time the subject has been exposed to, or not exposed to theemitted UV light. For example, at time t₁ the first subject 202 a wasfirst detected as being within the emission range 105. Regardless of anamount of time the first subject 202 a had been exposed to the emittedUV light, the controller 106 may, in response to receiving detectiondata from the subject detection sensors 108 (e.g., one or more proximitysensors), determine that the first subject 202 a is within thepredetermined distance from the light source 104 and transmit adeactivation signal to the light source 104. In some embodiments, thepredetermined distance is between about one foot to about eight feet. Insome embodiments, the predetermined distance is about three feet. Insome embodiments, if a subject is outside of the predetermined distance,the controller 106 may control operation of the light source 104 basedon the predetermined amount of exposure time as discussed above.

In some embodiments, the controller 106 is configured to determine anamount of time that a particular subject of one or more subjects hasbeen exposed to the UV light emitted by the light source 104. Referringto FIGS. 4A-4D, there is shown a second use case in which the controller106 is configured to distinguish between different subjects anddetermine an amount of exposure time for each subject. As discussedabove, the controller 106 may be configured to distinguish betweendifferent subjects based on the detection data generated by the one ormore subject detection sensors 108. For example, in FIG. 4A, a firstsubject 202 a is located within the emission range 105 and a secondsubject 202 b is located outside the emission range 105 but within thedetection range 107. At time to the subject detection sensors 108 maytransmit detection data to the controller 106 and the controller 106 maydetermine that there is a first subject 202 a within the emission range105 of the light source 104 and that there is a second subject 202 boutside the emission range 105. Put another way, based on the receiveddetection data at time to the controller 106 may distinguish between thefirst and second subject 202 a-202 b.

The controller 106 may determine, based on the detection data receivedat time to that the first subject 202 a has not been within the emissionrange 105 for a period of time greater than or equal to thepredetermined amount of exposure time (e.g., six minutes). As such, thecontroller 106 may cause, or may have previously caused, the lightsource 104 to emit UV light. As such, in FIG. 4A the light source 104 isactively emitting UV light to effect disinfection within the emissionrange 105 while the first subject 202 a is within the emission range105.

In FIG. 4B, at time t₁ occurring after time to the second subject 202 bis located within the emission range 105 simultaneously with the firstsubject 202 a. At time t₁ the subject detection sensors may generate andtransmit detection data to the controller 106. Furthermore, in theperiod of time between time t₁ and time to the subject detection sensors108 may have generated and transmitted detection data to the controller106. The controller 106 may be configured to determine, based on thereceived detection data between times t₁ and to, the amount of time thefirst subject 202 a and the amount of time the second subject 202 b havebeen within the emission range 105. For example, if the amount of timebetween t₁ and to is three minutes then the controller 106 maydetermine, based on the received detection data, that the first subject202 a has been within the emission range 105 for three minutes and thatthe second subject 202 b has been within the emission range for lessthan one second (e.g., the second subject 202 b moved within theemission range 105 at time ti). In this manner, the controller 106 maybe configured to determine the amount of exposure time for each of thefirst subject 202 a and second subject 202 b.

The controller 106 may determine, based on the determined amount ofexposure time for each of the subjects 202 a, 202 b, whether to causethe light source 104 to cease emitting the UV light. For example, if thepredetermined amount of time is about six minutes and the controller 106determines, based on the received detection data, that the first subject202 a has been exposed for three minutes and the second subject 202 bhas been exposed for less than one second, the controller 106 may nottransmit a deactivation signal to the light source 104. As such, in FIG.4B, the light source 104 at time t₁ continues to emit UV light.

In FIG. 4C, at a time t₂ occurring after the time t₁ the first subject202 a and second subject 202 b remain located within of the emissionrange 105. The one or more subject detection sensors 108 may generateand transmit detection data to the controller 106 at the predetermineddetection interval between times t₂ and t₁. The controller 106 maydetermine, based on the received detection data between times t₂ and t₁,the amount of time that each of the first subject 202 a and secondsubject 202 b have been within the emission range 105. The determinedamount of exposure time for the first subject 202 a may be generallyequal to t₂-t₀. The amount of exposure time for the second subject 202b, determined by the controller 106, may be generally equal to t₂-t₁where t₁ is the time at which the second subject 202 b was firstdetermined to be within the emission range. If the exposure time for thefirst subject 202 a is equal to the predetermined amount of exposuretime, but the amount of exposure time for the second subject is lessthan the predetermined amount of exposure time the controller 106 maytransmit a deactivation signal to the light source 104 thereby causingthe light source 104 to cease emitting UV light.

In FIG. 4D, at a time t₃ occurring after the time t₂, the first subject202 a has moved outside of the emission range 105. The subject detectionsensors 108 may generate and transmit detection data to the controllerat the predetermined detection interval between times t₃ and t₂. Thecontroller 106 may determine, based on the received detection data, thatat time t₃ the second subject 202 b is within the emission range 105 andthat the first subject 202 a is not. The light source 104 between thetimes t₃ and t₂ was not active and as such was not emitting UV light.Therefore, between the times t₃ to t₂ neither of the first subject 202 aand second subject 202 b were exposed to

UV light from the light source 104. As such, at time t₃ the controller106 may determine the amount of exposure time for the second subject 202b. In this instance, the determined amount of exposure time for thesecond subject 202 b is equal to t₂-t₁.

The controller 106 may determine whether the amount of exposure time forthe second subject 202 b is less than the predetermined amount ofexposure time. For example, the amount of exposure time t₂-t₁ determinedby the controller 106 for the second subject 202 b may be three minutesand the predetermined amount of exposure time may be six minutes. Assuch, the controller 106, in this instance, may determine that thesecond subject 202 b has not been exposed to UV light emitted by thelight source 104 for the predetermined amount of time. The controller106 may, in response to determining that the second subject 202 b hasnot been exposed to the UV light for the predetermined amount of time,transmit an activation signal to the light source 104 to cause the lightsource 104 to emit UV light. In this manner, the UV device 100 maydistinguish between different subjects in order to optimize an amount oftime the UV device 100 may safely emit UV light to effect disinfectionof the air and/or surfaces within the emission range 105.

In other embodiments, the controller 106 may be configured to activateand/or deactivate the light source 104 based on an aggregate amount oftime one or more subjects have been exposed to the emitted UV light. Forexample, in FIG. 4D, the controller 106 determined that the secondsubject 202 b was the only subject within the emission range 105 andthat the second subject 202 b had not been exposed to emitted UV lightfor the predetermined amount of exposure time and therefore causes thelight source 104 to be activated. However, alternative to what isillustrated in

FIG. 4D, in instances where the controller 106 is configured to controlactivation of the light source 104 based on an aggregation of determinedsubject exposure time, the controller 106 at time t₃ may not cause thelight source 104 to activate. For example, the controller 106 at time t₃may determine that the total amount of time that any subject 202 a-202 bhas been within the emission range 105 is generally equal to t₃-t₀ whichis greater than the predetermined amount of exposure time. As such, attime t₃ the controller 106 may not transmit an activation signal to thelight source 104, because the light source 104 would have already beendeactivated at time t₂ when the first subject 202 a was exposed to theUV light for the predetermined amount of exposure time.

In some embodiments, the UV device 100 may be configured to ceaseemitting UV light in response to UV light being continuously emitted fora predetermined maximum period of time.

Referring to FIGS. 5A-5B, there is illustrated a third use case in whichthe UV device emits UV light for up to a predetermined maximum period oftime. In FIG. 5A at an initial time to the light source 104 is activatedand thereby is emitting UV light. The activation of the light source 104may be in response to the controller 106 determining that no subjectsare within the emission range 105 or that a subject within the emissionrange 105 has not remained therein for the predetermined amount ofexposure time. For sake of brevity, it will be assumed in FIG. 5A thatthe controller 106 determines based on detection data generated by thesubject detection sensors 108 at time to that no subjects are within theemission range 105 and causes the light source 104 to emit UV light.

In FIG. 5B, at time t₁ occurring an amount of time after time to the UVdevice 100 is still emitting UV light. The controller 106 may beconfigured to determine the amount of time that the light source 104 hasbeen continuously emitting UV light. For example, the controller 106 maybe in communication with the light source 104 such that the controller106 may determine whether the light source 104 is active or not. In thismanner, the controller 106 may determine that the light source 104 hasbeen continuously emitting UV light for an amount of time equal tot₁-t₀. In response to the controller 106 determining at time t₁ that theamount of time t₁-t₀ is equal to a predetermined maximum emission amountof time, the controller 106 may cause the light source 104 to ceaseemitting UV light.

In some embodiments, the predetermined maximum emission amount of timemay be less than or equal to the predetermined exposure limit forsubjects exposed to the emitted UV light. In this manner, the UV device100 may automatically cease to emit UV light prior to an exposure limitof a subject being reached. As such, the controller 106 being configuredto deactivate the light source 104 at the predetermined maximum emissionamount of time may act as an automatic safety measure to ensure nosubject is exposed to UV light for a period of time great enough tocause adverse effects or damage thereto. In some embodiments, thepredetermined maximum emission amount of time may be between about sixminutes to about sixty minutes. In some embodiments, the predeterminedmaximum amount of time may be about ten minutes, about fifteen minutes,about twenty minutes, about twenty five minutes, about thirty minutes,about thirty five minutes, about forty minutes, about forty fiveminutes, about fifty minutes, about fifty five minutes, or about sixtyminutes. In some embodiments, the predetermined maximum amount of timemay be about two hours, three hours, four hours, five hours, six hours,seven hours, eight hours, nine hours, ten hours, eleven hours, twelvehours, thirteen hours, fourteen hours, fifteen hours, sixteen hours,seventeen hours, eighteen hours, nineteen hours, twenty hours,twenty-one hours, twenty-two hours, twenty-three hours, or twenty-fourhours, within a twenty-four hour time cycle. In some embodiments, thepredetermined maximum emission amount of time may be about fifteenminutes.

In some embodiments, the UV device 100 may be configured to calculate aneffective disinfection rate based on an amount of time that the lightsource 104 has been emitting the UV light. For example, the controller106 may monitor the amount of time which the light source 104 has beenemitting UV light. The controller 106 may determine, based on themonitored amount of time, an effective disinfection rate representingthe efficacy of disinfection of the air and/or surfaces within the rangeof the emitted UV light. In some embodiments, the controller 106 maytransmit the determined effective disinfection rate to the client device110. In this manner, a user of the client device 110 may be providedwith a visual indication of the efficacy of the disinfection effected bythe UV device 100.

In some embodiments, the UV device 100 is configured to delayreactivation of the light source 104 by a predetermined amount of delaytime. Referring to FIGS. 6A-6C, the light source 104 may be deactivatedby the controller 106 in response to a subject being within range of theemitted

UV light for the predetermined amount of exposure time (e.g., asdiscussed above with reference to FIGS. 3A-3C) or the UV light sourceemitting UV light for the predetermined maximum emission amount of time(e.g., as discussed above with reference to FIGS. 5A-5B). In FIG. 6A,the light source 104 is deactivated at time to in response to thesubject 202 a being within the emission range 105 for the predeterminedamount of exposure time. The controller 106 may be configured to begintracking the amount of time that the light source 104 has not beenactive. For example, at time to the controller 106 may begin recordingthe amount of time that the light source has not been active.

In FIG. 6B, at time t₁ occurring an amount of time after time to thesubject 202 a has moved outside of the emission range 105. Thecontroller 106 may determine that the subject 202 a has moved outside ofthe emission range 105 and determine whether the amount of time betweentimes t₁ and to is greater than or equal to the predetermined amount ofdelay time. In FIG. 6B, the controller 106 determines that the amount oftime t₁-t₀ is not greater than or equal to the predetermined amount ofdelay time and therefore does not cause the light source 104 to emit UVlight. As such, the light source 104 has not been active between timest₁ and to.

In FIG. 6C, at time t₂ occurring an amount of time after time t₁ thesubject 202 a has remained outside of the emission range 105. Thecontroller 106 may determine that no subject is within the emissionrange 105 and may determine whether the amount of time lapsed betweentimes t₂ and to are greater than or equal to the predetermined amount ofdelay time. In response to the controller 106 determining that theamount of time t₂-t₀ is greater than or equal to the predeterminedamount of delay time, the controller 106 may cause the light source 104to emit UV light. In some embodiments, the controller 106 is configuredto cause the light source 104 to emit UV light in response to the lightsource 104 being deactivated for the predetermined amount of delay timeregardless of whether a subject is within the emission range 105. Inother embodiments, the controller 106 may be configured to only activatethe light source 104 in response to determining that no subject iswithin the emission range and that the predetermined amount of delaytime has been reached. In some embodiments, the predetermined amount ofdelay time is between about one second to fifteen minutes. In someembodiments, the predetermined amount of delay time is about sixminutes.

In some embodiments, the UV device 100 may be configured to emit UVlight based on one or more user inputs transmitted from the clientdevice 110 to the UV device 100. For example, a user may, at the clientdevice 110 input one or more desired activation times corresponding toone or more periods of time the user wishes the UV device 100 to emit UVdisinfecting light. Put another way, the user may, at the client device110 input a desired schedule with which the user wishes the

UV device to operate within. In some embodiments, the UV device 100 isconfigured prioritize safety operations (e.g., emission and ceasingemission of UV light based on the safety operations described above, forexample, with reference to FIGS. 3A-6C) over the user input desiredschedule. As such, the schedule input by the user may include anindication of one or more start times and stop times corresponding towhen the UV device 100 should be emitting UV light and when the UVdevice 100 should not.

Referring to FIGS. 7A-7D, there is shown a use case illustrating the UVdevice 100 operating within a desired continuous activation period inputby a user at the client device 110. Prior to what is illustrated inFIGS. 7A-7D, the user may input, at the client device 110, an indicationof a desired continuous activation period, or, put another way anindication of a continuous period of time within which the user wishesfor the UV device 100 to emit UV light. The indication of a desiredcontinuous activation period may be defined by a start time and a stoptime. For example, the desired continuous activation period may bedefined by a start time of 10:00 AM and a stop time of 4:00 PM. In thismanner, the UV device 100 may enable a user to remotely controloperation of the UV device 100. This may be beneficial such that theuser may define different operating times of the UV device 100corresponding to times in which the user may be away from the UV device(e.g., when the user is at work, school, or generally out of their homeor a room in which the UV device 100 is located). The indication of thecontinuous activation period may be transmitted from the client device110 to the controller 106.

In FIG. 7A, at time to the controller 106 determines that the time tocorresponds to the start time of the desired continuous activationperiod. As such, at time to the controller 106 may transmit theactivation signal to the light source 104 to cause the light source 104to emit UV light. In some embodiments, the controller 106 may beconfigured to activate the light source 104 in response to the currenttime (e.g., time to) being the same as the desired start time and inresponse to determining that a subject within the emission range 105 hasnot been exposed to UV light within the emission range 105 for thepredetermined amount of exposure time.

For example, in FIG. 7A, a subject 202 a (e.g., a domesticated animal)is within the emission range 105. The controller 106 may have, prior tothe time to been receiving detection data from the subject detectionsensors and determined that the subject 202 a was within the emissionrange 105. In one instance the light source 104 may be active prior totime to and the subject 202 a may be within the emission range 105 for aperiod of time less than the predetermined amount of exposure time. Assuch, in response to the time to coinciding with the start time, thecontroller 106 may transmit the activation signal to the light source104 at time to. In another instance, the light source 104 may have beenactive prior to time to and the subject 202 a may have been within theemission range 105 for a period of time equal to the predeterminedamount of exposure time. As such, at time prior to time to thecontroller 106 may cause the light source 104 to cease emitting UVlight. Furthermore, in an instance where the subject 202 a remainswithin the emission range 105 at time to the controller 106 may notcause the light source 104 to emit UV light even though the time tocoincides with the user input start time.

For sake of brevity though, it will be assumed at time to in FIG. 7Athat the light source 104 is activated. In FIG. 7B, at a first time t₁following the start time to and prior to the user specified end time,the controller 106 may determine that one or more subjects are withinthe emission range 105 of the activated light source 104. In someembodiments, in response to the controller 106 determining that asubject (e.g., subject 202 a) being within the emission range 105 attime t₁ the controller 106 may transmit a deactivation signal to thelight source 104 to cause the light source 1094 to cease emitting UVlight. In other embodiments, the controller 106 may determine, based ondetection data received at the predetermined detection interval betweentimes to and t₁ that the subject 202 a has remained within the emissionrange 105 for the predetermined amount of exposure time. As such, thecontroller 106 at time t₁ may transmit the deactivation signal to thelight source 104.

In FIG. 7C, at a second time t₂ following the first time t₁ and prior tothe user specified stop time, the controller 106 may determine that nosubject is within the emission range 105 of the light source 104 and maycause the light source 104 to emit UV light. For example, in FIG. 7C, attime t₂ the subject 202 a has moved outside of the emission range 105.The controller 106 determines, based on received detection data receivedfrom the subject detection sensors 108 at time t₂ that no subject iswithin the emission range 105. In response to determining that nosubject is within the emission range 105 and that the time t₂ fallswithin the desired continuous activation period, the controller 106transmits the activation signal to the light source 104 to cause thelight source 104 to emit UV light.

In FIG. 7D, at a third time t₃, the controller 106 may determine thatthe third time t₃ coincides with, or is equal to, the user specified endtime. In response to determining that the third time t₃ is equal to theuser specified end time, the controller 106 may transmit a deactivationsignal to the light source 104 to cause the light source 104 to ceaseemitting UV light. In some embodiments, in response to determining thatthe third time t₃ is equal to the end time, the controller 106 may causethe light source 104 to cease emitting UV light regardless of whether asubject is within the emission range 105 or not. For example, in FIG.7D, there are no subjects within the emission range 105, however, thecontroller 106 determines that the user specified end time has beenreached and therefore causes the light source 104 to cease emitting UVlight.

In some embodiments, the UV device 100 may be configured to performredundant detection for subjects within the emission range of the lightsource 104 to improve the safety of the UV device 100. For example,aspects of the present disclosure are discussed above in FIGS. 3A-7Dwith reference to the generation of detection data by one or moresubject detection sensors 108 and determining, at the controller 106, aposition of one or more subjects relative to the emission range 105. Inthis manner, the controller 106, or a processor included therein, andone or more of the subject detection sensors 108 may act as a firstsafeguard system for ensuring that subjects are not exposed to UV lightemitted by the light source 104 for an amount of time that would causeadverse effects and/or damage. As such, the UV device 100 may include asecond safeguard system, which may include additional subject detectionsensors (not shown) and/or a subset of the subject detection sensors 108illustrated in FIGS. 1-2 . Furthermore, the second safeguard system mayinclude a second processor and/or second controller generally the sameas controller 106 or a processor included therewith. The secondsafeguard system may be configured to operate in generally the samemanner as, and independently of, the first safeguard system and as suchwill not be discussed in extensive detail for sake of brevity. However,it should be understood that the UV device 100 may be configured toleverage both the first and second safeguard systems simultaneously toautomatically activate or deactivate the light source 104 as describedabove.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could bemade to the exemplary embodiments shown and described above withoutdeparting from the broad inventive concepts thereof. It is to beunderstood that the embodiments and claims disclosed herein are notlimited in their application to the details of construction andarrangement of the components set forth in the description andillustrated in the drawings. Rather, the description and the drawingsprovide examples of the embodiments envisioned. The embodiments andclaims disclosed herein are further capable of other embodiments and ofbeing practiced and carried out in various ways.

Specific features of the exemplary embodiments may or may not be part ofthe claimed invention and various features of the disclosed embodimentsmay be combined. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms “a”,“an” and “the” are not limited to one element but instead should be readas meaning “at least one”. Finally, unless specifically set forthherein, a disclosed or claimed method should not be limited to theperformance of their steps in the order written, and one skilled in theart can readily appreciate that the steps may be performed in anypractical order. When specifying a numerical value or range of values,the term “about” means +/−10% unless otherwise defined.

It is to be understood that at least some of the figures anddescriptions of the invention have been simplified to focus on elementsthat are relevant for a clear understanding of the invention, whileeliminating, for purposes of clarity, other elements that those ofordinary skill in the art will appreciate may also comprise a portion ofthe invention. However, because such elements are well known in the art,and because they do not necessarily facilitate a better understanding ofthe invention, a description of such elements is not provided herein.

Further, to the extent that the methods of the present invention do notrely on the particular order of steps set forth herein, the particularorder of the steps should not be construed as limitation on the claims.Any claims directed to the methods of the present invention should notbe limited to the performance of their steps in the order written, andone skilled in the art can readily appreciate that the steps may bevaried and still remain within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A far-ultraviolet (far-UVC) disinfection devicecomprising: a housing; a light source positioned within the housing andconfigured to emit a far-UVC light having an output wavelength ofbetween about 206 nanometers to about 230 nanometers; one or moresubject detection sensors positioned within the housing and configuredto detect the presence of one or more subjects, the one or more subjectsconsisting of one or more of human beings, one or more domesticatedanimals, and one or more farm animals or a combination thereof; and acontroller positioned within the housing and in communication with thelight source and the one or more subject detection sensors, thecontroller configured to: receive detection data from the one or moresubject detection sensors; determine, based on the received detectiondata, whether one or more subjects are within a range of the far-UVClight emitted by the light source; in response to determining that asubject of the one or more subjects are within the range of the far-UVClight emitted by the light source for a predetermined amount of exposuretime, cause the light source to cease emitting the far-UVC light; and inresponse to determining that no subject of the one or more subjects iswithin the range of the far-UVC light emitted by the light source forthe predetermined amount of exposure time, cause the light source toemit the far-UVC light.
 2. The far-UVC disinfection device of claim 1,wherein the one or more subject detection sensors includes at least oneof an infrared sensor, a motion sensor, and a proximity sensor.
 3. Thefar-UVC disinfection device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined amountof exposure time is less than or equal to an exposure limit for thesubject being exposed to the far-UVC light emitted by the light source.4. The far-UVC disinfection device of claim 1, wherein the controller isconfigured to cause the light source to cease emitting the far-UVC lightin response to the one or more subject detection sensors detecting thepresence of a subject within the range of the emitted far-UVC light forbetween about one minute to about ten minutes.
 5. The far-UVCdisinfection device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured tocause the light source to cease emitting the far-UVC light in responseto the one or more subject detection sensors detecting the presence of asubject within the range of the emitted light for about six minutes. 6.The far-UVC disinfection device of claim 1, wherein the controller isconfigured to determine an effective disinfection rate based on anamount of time that the light source has been emitting the far-UVClight.
 7. The far-UVC disinfection device of claim 6, wherein thecontroller is configured to transmit the determined effectivedisinfection rate to a client device external to the far-UVCdisinfection device.
 8. The far-UVC disinfection device of claim 1,wherein the one or more subject detection sensors includes two infraredsensors and four motion sensors.
 9. The far-UVC disinfection device ofclaim 1, wherein the controller is configured to cause the one or moresubject detection sensors to activate at a predetermined detectioninterval, and wherein, when activated, the one or more subject detectionsensors are configured to generate the detection data and transmit thedetection data to the processor.
 10. The far-UVC disinfection device ofclaim 9, wherein the predetermined detection interval is less than orequal to one second.
 11. The far-UVC disinfection device of claim 1,wherein the controller is configured to delay causing the light sourceto emit the far-UVC light in response to the one or more subjectdetection sensors detecting no subject within the range of the far-UVClight emitted by the light source by a predetermined amount of delaytime.
 12. The far-UVC disinfection device of claim 11, wherein thepredetermined amount of delay time is between about one second to sixminutes.
 13. The far-UVC disinfection device of claim 1, wherein thecontroller is further configured to: in response to the light sourceemitting the far-UVC light continuously for a predetermined maximumemission amount of time, causing the light source to cease emitting thefar-UVC light.
 14. The far-UVC disinfection device of claim 13, whereinthe predetermined maximum emission amount of time is about sixtyminutes.
 15. The far-UVC disinfection device of claim 1, wherein thelight source is configured to emit a far-UVC light having an outputwavelength of about 222 nanometers.
 16. The far-UVC disinfection deviceof claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to cause the lightsource to cease emitting the far-UVC light in response to the one ormore subject detection sensors detecting the presence of a subjectwithin the range of the emitted far-UVC light for a threshold limitvalue (TLV) amount of time, wherein the TLV is based on the outputwavelength of the emitted far-UVC light.
 17. The far-UVC disinfectiondevice of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to cause thelight source to cease emitting the far-UVC light in response to the oneor more subject detection sensors detecting the presence of a subjectwithin a predetermined distance of the light source
 104. 18. The far-UVCdisinfection device of claim 17, wherein the predetermined distance isabout three feet.
 19. A method of automatically disinfecting the air andsurfaces within the range of a far-ultraviolet (far-UVC) disinfectiondevice, the method comprising: causing a far-UVC disinfection device toemit a far-UVC light having an output wavelength of about 222nanometers, the far-UVC disinfection device including: a far-UVC lightsource configured to emit the far-UVC light; one or more subjectdetection sensors configured to detect the one or more subjects, the oneor more subjects consisting of one or more of human beings, one or moredomesticated animals, and one or more farm animals or a combinationthereof; and a controller in communication with the far-UVC light sourceand the one or more subject detection sensors and configured toselectively activate and deactivate each of the far-UVC light source andthe one or more subject detection sensors; in response to the one ormore subject detection sensors detecting that a subject of the one ormore subjects are within the range of the far-UVC light emitted by thefar-UVC light source for a predetermined amount of exposure time,transmitting a deactivation signal from the controller to the far-UVClight source to cause the far-UVC light source to cease emitting thefar-UVC light; and in response to the one or more subject detectionsensors detecting no subject of the one or more subjects within therange of the far-UVC light emitted by the far-UVC light source,transmitting an activation signal from the controller to the far-UVClight source to cause the far-UVC light source to begin emitting thefar-UVC light.
 20. The method of claim 19 further comprising: receivingfrom a client device, external to the far-UVC disinfection device, atthe controller, an indication of a desired continuous activation periodfor the far-UVC light source, the desired continuous activation perioddefined by a start time and a stop time; at the start time, transmittingfrom the controller to the far-UVC light source the activation signalcausing the far-UVC light source to emit far-UVC light; at a first timefollowing the start time and prior to the stop time, determining via theone or more subject detection sensors that a subject is within range ofthe far-UVC light emitted by the light source, and transmitting thedeactivation signal from the controller to the far-UVC light source tocause the far-UVC light source to cease emitting the far-UVC light; at asecond time following the first time and prior to the stop time,determining that no subject is within the range of the far-UVC lightemitted by the far-UVC light source, and transmitting the activationsignal from the controller to the far-UVC light source to cause thefar-UVC light source to begin emitting the far-UVC light; and at the endtime, transmitting from the controller to the far-UVC light source thedeactivation signal causing the far-UVC light source to cease emittingthe far-UVC light.